Vol. 77/No. 20      May 27, 2013

The Militant calls on working people throughout the country to join coal miners in the fight against the bosses’ assault on their union and what it has won in safety, wages, pensions, health care and other gains achieved in past struggles. Demonstrations are planned for May 21 in St. Louis and June 4 in Henderson, Ky.

The United Mine Workers of America was organized and built without regard to race or country of birth, often against violent opposition by the coal bosses and the government. Through many struggles, miners won better pay, lifetime health care and some control over safety conditions — crucial in an industry where the bosses’ profit drive results in explosions, collapses, and countless injuries and deaths, including a slow death for many from crippling black lung disease.

The current fight of coal miners is about the present and future struggles of working people in this country and around the world.

The employers react to the worldwide crisis of capitalist production and trade by driving against the working class, targeting our jobs, wages, safety and our rights. In this offensive, bosses count on the backing of their government, from the local cops and courts to federal agencies in Washington.

To maintain their profits, Patriot Coal and the bosses they front for at Peabody and Arch Coal are using the bankruptcy court to tear up union contracts and throw retirees and their dependents under the bus. The owners of Deer Creek Mine in Huntington, Utah, aim to eliminate the union safety committee.

These conditions are compelling more and more workers to fight — from coal miners in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Utah; to school bus drivers in New York City; to dockworkers in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.; and many others.

Build and join the rallies the United Mine Workers union has called for May 21 in St. Louis and June 4 in Henderson, Ky. Help get the Militant newspaper around in the coalfields and among working people broadly. The miners’ fights are at the forefront of efforts today by working people to resist the bosses’ offensive against all of us.  

 
 
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